Become an Architect

Road to Registration

You've graduated, landed your first job, and are on your way to becoming a licensed architect. If you follow the steps outlined below to complete your internship and take the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) to become licensed to practice architecture in the State of Texas, you can save yourself time, money, and future headaches

Texas, like every other US jurisdiction, requires completion of the “3 Es” in order to obtain your license. First, you need to complete the Education requirement by obtaining your professional degree in architecture (Bachelors of Architecture or Masters of Architecture). Then, you will need to fulfill the Experience requirement by enrolling in the Intern Development Program (IDP), a national training program and record-keeping system that enables architectural interns to track their training requirement. IDP is administered by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), which allows you to carry your experiences from state to state. Last, is the Examination, where you must take and pass each of the sections of the ARE. The sooner you successfully complete the steps, as defined by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners (TBAE) for registration in the state of Texas, the sooner you will become a licensed architect.

NCARB, a federation of all registration boards in the United States, sets national standards for architectural registration. NCARB acts as the central clearinghouse and contact point for all interns, architects, and registration boards in matters dealing with registration. NCARB establishes, interprets, and enforces the IDP training requirements. The ARE, developed by NCARB and administered in Texas by TBAE, is the required examination for architectural registration. The computerized ARE is administered by Thomson Prometrics throughout the year at testing centers across Texas to candidates who have met the prerequisites. TBAE, based in Austin, is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards; it regulates the licensure and practice of architecture in the state of Texas. Successful completion of IDP is required to meet TBAE's Experience requirements.

Steps in the Intern Development Program

1. Enroll in the Intern Development Program to establish an NCARB Council Record.
   Visit NCARB’s website where you will be able to register for your Council Record online and receive information on the details of what will be expected of you. You will be eligible to do this anytime after completion of your third year in an architectural degree program, or after the first year of a graduate architecture program if your bachelor’s degree is in another field. Additionally, contact your local AIA chapter for any resources and local programs offered to assist interns.
2. Select an IDP Supervisor and an IDP Mentor.
   For most IDP training categories, the supervisor cousels the intern on a daily basis and regularly assesses the quality of work performed. Architects who serve as supervisors must hold a current license in the state where the intern is employed, and have been licensed prior to the intern’s employment with the firm. For some training categories, the supervisor can be an engineer, landscape architect, interior designer, planner, or contractor. Refer to the IDP Guidelines for specific requirements. Mentors serve interns by giving them advice and offering a supportive forum for discussing challenges and aspirations. The mentor must be a registered architect but not necessarily in the state where the intern is employed. It is recommended that the mentor work outside the intern's firm, but is not required.
3. Develop a personal record-keeping system for tracking daily activities as related to the IDP training requirements.
   NCARB has created a record-keeping tool, The IDP Training Unit Workbook. It may be downloaded directly from the NCARB website. The NCARB IDP Training Unit Workbook or similar record-keeping system will help you document your training for the NCARB training reports. Typically, company time sheets do not address the multiple training areas covered in one’s daily work.
4. Send a written request to NCARB to prepare your Council Record for transmittal to TBAE at least 90 days before your anticipated IDP completion date.
   NCARB will review your record, employment verifications, IDP training reports, etc., and request any outstanding information. Upon receipt of any outstanding information and any unpaid fees NCARB will transmit your record to TBAE within 30 days.
5. Request the Table of Equivalents for Education and Experience and the Texas Table of Diversified Experience Requirements from TBAE to see if you qualify for registration in Texas.
   NCARB will not submit your Council Record until all of TBAE's eligibility requirements have been met.

Steps in the Architect Registration Examination

1. After graduation from a NAAB (National Architecture Accrediting Board) school with an accredited professional degree, and six months of work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed architect, you may request to take the ARE in Texas.
   Contact TBAE via phone, written correspondence, or through their website to request an application. Your NCARB Council Record does not need to be complete before you start testing
2. TBAE will send a form which allows you to indicate the sections of the exam you wish to take.
   Thomson Prometric will then mail you an Authorization to Test letter with your candidate ID number, which must be used each time to schedule an exam. Thomson Prometric will also send a package on how to schedule an exam at an authorized testing center and a list of all authorized testing centers.
3. Schedule an appointment on the Internet to take each section of the exam.
   Log on to www.prometric.com to schedule and pay for an exam. Payment is by credit card only. Failed exam sections may be retaken after six months.
4. During the time it takes you to pass all sections of the ARE, TBAE will require a $25 Annual Maintenance Fee to keep your file active and remain on the mailing list for exam information.

Beginning July 1, 2008, all first-time test takers, and anyone who has yet to pass a section of the ARE, will begin taking the new ARE 4.0 exams. Anyone already having passed at least one section of the ARE 3.1 exam may continue taking that version of the ARE until June 2009. After that time, everyone will be required to complete the ARE under version 4.0. Please see the NCARB website for complete information on the ARE and the transition process.

The ARE: Advice from the Trenches [26 KB PDF]
This informal account of one associate's experience with the ARE may be helpful to you in identifying some common obstacles to completing the ARE. (Note: some of the information is out of date so be sure to verify as it pertains to you.)

TBAE Registration Parameters

• As of September 1, 1999, applicants are required to have a degree from an NAAB accredited program. Any applicant who began his or her educational training and/or experience prior to September 1, 1999 will be subject to the registration laws in effect prior to September 1, 1999.
• Applicants must successfully complete the requirements of IDP. Three years of IDP training are required of a candidate with an NAAB-accredited degree. Four and a half years of training are required of a candidate with a four-year pre-professional degree (verify with TBAE). Eight years of training are required of a candidate with only a high school diploma (verify with TBAE).
• TBAE has a 5-year “rolling clock” time limit for taking the ARE. If all sections are not passed within the 5 years, any section passed prior to that 5-year window will become invalid and must be retaken. For more information on the rolling clock, click here.
• TBAE will accept a non-certified Council Record (an unbound copy of the council record) as documentation of an applicant's qualifications for registration.
• Training may not be included as any work experience required for graduation. Part-time employment is accepted if it is at least 20 hours per week for six months.

EESA: Education Evaluation Services for Architects

EESA is a NAAB program that assists those individuals who wish to apply for NCARB certification or for registration by an NCARB member board and who do not have a professional degree in architecture from an NAAB-accredited school of architecture. EESA often works with internationally educated applicants and broadly experienced architects. Additional information is available at the NAAB website .

Fees

Application for NCARB Council Record    $285

For three years of NCARB services in compiling your council record. This fee includes one transmittal of your record to TBAE. Students and recent graduates from NAAB-accredited programs (within six months of graduation) may submit $100 with the application. The balance is due before the record is transmitted to TBAE. All other interns must submit the full record compilation fee with their application.

NCARB Annual Maintenance Fee    $60

For services for each additional year beyond the first three years, or for reactivation of your expired record. The fee is charged for each year or fraction of a year from the date of expiration up to a maximum of $285.

NCARB Accelerated Application Fee    $570

For compiling and transmitting your record within one year of the application date at your written request. This fee is in addition to the $285 Application Fee.

TBAE Examination Application Fee    $100

This is a one-time non-refundable fee for processing exam applications and issuing scores, and is paid after your NCARB Council Record has been transmitted to TBAE.

TBAE Annual Maintenance Fee    $25

TBAE requires this fee to keep your file active and enable you to receive exam information during the time it takes to pass all sections of the exam.

TBAE Annual License Registration Fee    $305

Architectural Registration Examination

For more information and a Texas contact, click here.

References

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